Starting April 1, 2022, Delaware County will join the growing number of municipalities and localities implementing increased pay-to-play regulations. As reported back in January 2022, this is one more instance within a larger trend of pay-to-play regulations continuing to move local.
These localized rules and amendments add to the complexity for firms, as they adapt to navigating federal, state, and local regulations. And as we enter Q2 of a mid-term election year, firms face mounting scrutiny of their employees’ political contribution activity and disclosures.
In the case of Delaware County, the latest requirement amends existing code 6-12 to include additional pay-to-play disclosure regulations for county contractors.
Most notably, the definition of contractor under this new amendment includes “any non-governmental person, corporation, partnership, association or other entity, whether or not for profit, and includes any subcontractor which is reasonably anticipated to receive compensation of $50,000 or more under the applicable covered contract.”
Required disclosures for Political Contributions in Delaware County include:
- Contractors must submit any reportable political contributions at least 8 days prior to their meeting. Reportable contributions include any contributions within the last 2 years or 24 months.
- “All invitations to bid, requests for proposal or other contract solicitations by the County for covered contracts shall include a requirement that all bidders/respondents provide the required disclosure form. All covered contracts shall provide the right to void the contract as set forth in this Section 6-12.E.”
- Contractors in a covered contract which extends beyond one year must submit annual reports no later than January 30th noting any political contributions made within the last year. This amendment will go into effect January 30, 2023.
Penalties for nondisclosure are as follows: “Any contractor which fails to provide the disclosure forms required hereby or which submits disclosure forms which are materially inaccurate may be banned as a contractor or subcontractor to the County for a period of up to three (3) years, and/or, to the extent legally permitted, the covered contract in question may be terminated, in each case, by a majority vote of County Council following such investigation and consideration of such evidence as County Council deems appropriate or by action of such other entity or body as may be designated by resolution of County Council.”
The Delaware County amendment is another example of the ways that firms – even in non-election years – must navigate a maze of increasingly complex political contribution compliance requirements.
The illumis® political contribution compliance platform helps reduce risk and increase transparency around pay-to-play rules. Our platform continues to set the standard, with cutting-edge technology to help ensure comprehensive coverage. Interested in a demo of the illumis Compliance platform? Click here or email solutions@illumis.com.